EP2904567A1 - Systems and methods for implementing a traveler-specific store using mobile devices in a mobile retail environment - Google Patents
Systems and methods for implementing a traveler-specific store using mobile devices in a mobile retail environmentInfo
- Publication number
- EP2904567A1 EP2904567A1 EP13844008.6A EP13844008A EP2904567A1 EP 2904567 A1 EP2904567 A1 EP 2904567A1 EP 13844008 A EP13844008 A EP 13844008A EP 2904567 A1 EP2904567 A1 EP 2904567A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- mobile
- retail environment
- traveler
- services
- information
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
- G06Q20/20—Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
Definitions
- smartphones can be used to pre -order goods or services (prior to boarding) for later delivery in a mobile retail environment, their conventional use for shopping and placing orders while en route is limited to only those flights where Internet connectivity is available.
- Internet service is not currently available on all aircraft and all airlines. When it is available, there is typically a charge to access the service, which may dissuade certain users.
- bandwidth limitations or limitations on the number of users that can be supported at any given time on a flight Accordingly, although it is likely that a majority of passengers on a flight are carrying a smartphone, there is currently a lost opportunity to leverage that technology in order to facilitate the sale of goods or services through such devices on-board.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a general arrangement for a mobile retail environment system according to one embodiment.
- FIGs. 2B-2Q are block diagrams illustrating examples of each of the services of FIG. 2A.
- FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile host module according to one embodiment that is adapted for a mobile point-of-sale server.
- FIGs. 6 A and 6B are flow diagrams illustrating a preparation process and an in-flight offline process to facilitate a sale in a mobile retail environment according to one embodiment of the present invention in which a point-of-sale server is configured with a mobile host module.
- One aspect of the invention is directed to integrating mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and the like, into a travel and mobile retail environment commercial system.
- the retail environment is termed mobile because the place where the shoppers are located is a vehicle, such as an aircraft, train, ship, bus, automobile, and the like.
- a vehicle such as an aircraft, train, ship, bus, automobile, and the like.
- the embodiments of the invention detailed below shall be described in the context of an aircraft, where the shoppers, or customers, are passengers that are either on board the aircraft, or are persons who will be present on board the aircraft at a specified future time.
- the operator of the aircraft, or the carrier is an airline company.
- FIG. 1A is a top-level system diagram illustrating various interactions between some of the components of a mobile retail environment according to one type of embodiment.
- the Servers 100 interface with computer systems of each of airlines A, B, C, and X (collectively, airlines 102) over computer network 104a.
- the Servers 100 can utilize any suitable arrangement known in the art using well-known hardware and software platforms for their basic operation. The specific system implementation that embodies aspects of the invention utilizing the basic platforms will be detailed below.
- Servers 100 also interface with computer systems of each of vendors/suppliers F, G, and Z (collectively, vendors 106) via network 104b.
- Network 104b can be the same network as network 104a (e.g., the Internet), or they can be entirely separate networks.
- POS devices 108 are mounted on- board the aircraft, such as in the back of most seats or in the bulkhead walls. These types of devices can be integrated with on-board media players that display videos and videogames, output sound to a set of headphones, and can include a touchscreen, videogame controller, or a variety of other input and output devices.
- Vehicle network 140 in one type of embodiment, equipment on each aircraft 130 supports a vehicle network 140.
- Vehicle network 140 includes Wi-Fi wireless connectivity between devices in the network and can include one or more servers, internetworking devices such as routers or firewalls, and endpoint devices such as POS devices 108 and mobile devices 150.
- vehicle network 140 is an ad-hoc network in which POS devices 108 can communicate with one another or with other devices directly, thereby establishing the vehicle network 140.
- servers 100 facilitate information exchange with the airlines 102 to obtain each traveler's itinerary and other critical information, with vendors or suppliers 106 to obtain and provide information concerning goods or services to be sold and ultimately delivered during travel or at each traveler's destination.
- Servers 100 establish mobile stores that exist temporarily, such as during a flight from departure to arrival and exchange all critical information relating to merchandising and sales with POS devices 108.
- information pertaining to flight schedules, departures, destinations, and status, as well as individual passenger identification and itineraries, and crew information, received from the various airlines is combined with information relating to the various products and services, received from the various vendors or suppliers of those products and services, to specifically define each mobile retail environment.
- the mobile retail environment can be vehicle-specific, and vehicle- and passenger-specific. In another embodiment, the mobile retail environment can further be crew-specific. For passengers having travel itineraries with connection points, those passengers may experience multiple different mobile retail environments, with each environment corresponding to each leg of their travel.
- servers 100 are in constant communication with each vehicle, and are able to conduct merchandising and sales in real-time to travelers on-board the vehicles.
- the on-board store during transit oftentimes does not have this connection.
- POS devices 108 are communicated with and updated between flights.
- FIG. 2A illustrates a system functional architecture according to one embodiment that supports integration of devices 150 into the mobile retail environment.
- System 200 includes access layer 202 and presentation layer 204.
- Access layer 202 illustrated in FIG. 2B, includes devices such as POS devices 108, mobile devices 150, in-flight entertainment systems (i.e. seat- back) devices 152, kiosk devices 154, and any general device with a Web browser 156.
- Presentation layer services 204 interface with access layer devices to provide consumer services 206, crew services 208, airline services 210, content provider services 212, reporting services 214, analytics 216, transaction services 218, generic user services 220, communication services 222, database services 224, data transmission services 226, security services 228, monitoring services 230, operating systems services 232, development services 234, and API services 236.
- Each of these services can be accessed through one or more of the access services 202. Examples of each of these services are illustrated, respectively, in FIGs. 2C-2Q.
- a mobile host module is implemented in the mobile device 150 of each traveler.
- This mobile host module described in greater detail in FIGs. 3 and 4A-4B, supports one mobile store for the traveler, and enables the traveler to shop in the mobile store even when there is no connectivity with servers 100, which may be the case during transit in a vehicle.
- each traveler in the mobile retail environment may have a specific store defined for the traveler, which has goods and services available based on that traveler's specific itinerary and, where applicable, any preconfigured limitations such as charge authorization.
- the mobile host module provides the mobile store to each traveler's mobile device. This can be accomplished via standard web browser interface over an intranet established using vehicle network 140. FIGs. 5 and 6A-6B and the corresponding description below provide more details on this type of embodiment.
- mobile device 150 is configured with specific modules to support off-line in-flight purchases.
- module means a real- world device, component, or arrangement of components implemented using hardware, such as by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or field-programmable gate array (FPGA), for example, or as a combination of hardware and software, such as by a microprocessor system and a set of instructions to implement the module's functionality, which (while being executed) transform the microprocessor system into a special-purpose device.
- a module can also be implemented as a combination of the two, with certain functions facilitated by hardware alone, and other functions facilitated by a combination of hardware and software.
- a portion, and in some cases, all, of a module can be executed on the processor(s) of one or more general purpose computers (such as the one described in greater detail below) that execute an operating system, system programs, and application programs, while also implementing the module using multitasking, multithreading, distributed (e.g., cloud) processing, or other such techniques.
- each module can be realized in a variety of suitable configurations, and should not be limited to any particular implementation exemplified herein.
- mobile device 150 executes a mobile host module 300 that includes mobile store module 302, mobile store inventory records module 304, update module 306, and in-flight data exchange module 308.
- these four modules of the mobile host module 300 are implemented using an application, or "app,” that is downloaded to mobile device 150 and installed to execute on the device. Once the app is installed, the program instructions of the app configure the computing hardware of mobile device 150 to implement modules 302, 304, 306, and 308.
- Mobile store module 302 provides an interactive user experience that allows the traveler to browse goods or services that are available in the mobile retail environment.
- the mobile retail environment is defined in one sense based on what is actually available.
- mobile store inventory records module 304 represents the goods and services that are available in each particular mobile retail environment.
- Update module 306 facilitates data connectivity, with servers 100 to update the stored data in module 304. In one embodiment, for flight, or each leg of a particular itinerary, update module 306 receives appropriate inventory information.
- In-flight data exchange module 308 facilitates interaction with a POS device 108 or other device on vehicle network 140. This interaction can include wireless communications of mobile store inventory information, transactions, authorizations, and the like.
- FIG. 4A is a flow diagram illustrating a process for preparing mobile device 150 for an off-line mobile retail environment according to one example embodiment.
- Airline back office system
- Vendor represents a sequence of events performed by each respective system.
- a passenger books travel with the airline. This can be done online or via telephone with a customer service representative.
- the customer who is the traveler-to-be at this stage, or person or organization affiliated with the traveler-to-be, authorizes a certain amount of charges on a credit card, corporate account, or other suitable financial instrument. This amount can be processed at this early stage and held to ensure payment in reconciliation.
- the customer's travel itinerary including the traveler's identity and flight information, as well as the charge authorization information, are transmitted to the back-office system on servers 100.
- the BOS receives the traveler and charge authorization from the airline, and receives the commitment information from the vendor. Using this information, the BOS creates the on-board store.
- the on-board store in this case describes the goods and services that are available to travelers on each particular flight.
- the traveler has mobile device 150 and the device is configured with update module 306.
- Update module 306 causes mobile device 150 to connect periodically, or on a push basis in response to events such as itinerary creation or changes, with servers 100 and receive mobile store inventory records to be kept by module 304. These records are specific to the traveler's itinerary and preferably represent only those items which are available to the traveler on his or her flight(s).
- the servers 100 also send the on-board store information, along with commitment limits provided by the vendor to the POS devices 108 or other devices on mobile network 140, that will be available on the flight(s).
- mobile store module 302 on the mobile device provides a shopping experience to the traveler.
- the charge authorization limits established at the time of booking of the flight are enforced.
- the sale information is provided to POS device 108, which proceeds to check if the selected goods or services are still available (since other shoppers may have preempted this traveler insofar as the commitment amounts are concerned).
- This information may be transmitted to the POS device over vehicle network 140.
- this information may be generated in the form of a bar code, which is displayed on the screen of mobile device 150 and read by a bar code reader on POS device 108.
- a voucher is issued to the traveler (e.g., in the form of a printed-out slip, or in the form of a numerical code associated with the completed transaction) and the sale is confirmed for the traveler.
- POS device 108 transmits the sales and voucher codes to the Vendor, who is now prepared to deliver the goods or services to the traveler upon his or her arrival. Also, the payment information is provided to servers 100, which will be used for reconciliation with the credit card issuer.
- Mobile host module 500 includes mobile store module 502, which is similar to mobile store module 302, except that this module can manage multiple stores, each corresponding to a different traveler to be in the mobile retail environment.
- Mobile store inventory records module 504 and update module 506 are analogous to modules 304 and 306 described above.
- In-flight data exchange module 508 facilitates communication with other devices in vehicle network 140, including with module devices 150 and, optionally, with POS device(s) 108.
- FIG. 6A is a modified process according to one embodiment similar to the process of FIG. 4A, except that the process of FIG. 6A is specifically adapted to configurations in which the mobile host module is implemented in a point-of-sale server 450.
- the operations depicted in FIG. 6A are essentially analogous to those of the process of FIG. 4A, except blocks 602 and 604.
- the on-board store and charge authorization information is sent to the point-of-sale server instead of to the mobile device. Parts of the process are of course repeated for each individual traveler so that the point-of-sale server is configured with multiple mobile stores customized to individual travelers' itineraries.
Landscapes
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
- Finance (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Strategic Management (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Economics (AREA)
- Marketing (AREA)
- Development Economics (AREA)
- Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
- Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/646,280 US20140100976A1 (en) | 2012-10-05 | 2012-10-05 | Systems and methods for implementing a traveler-specific store using mobile devices in a mobile retail environment |
PCT/IB2013/002759 WO2014053914A1 (en) | 2012-10-05 | 2013-10-02 | Systems and methods for implementing a traveler-specific store using mobile devices in a mobile retail environment |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2904567A1 true EP2904567A1 (en) | 2015-08-12 |
EP2904567A4 EP2904567A4 (en) | 2016-04-20 |
Family
ID=50433454
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP13844008.6A Withdrawn EP2904567A4 (en) | 2012-10-05 | 2013-10-02 | Systems and methods for implementing a traveler-specific store using mobile devices in a mobile retail environment |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20140100976A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2904567A4 (en) |
CN (1) | CN104969248A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2887373A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2014053914A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2009152185A2 (en) | 2008-06-09 | 2009-12-17 | Guestlogix, Inc. | Systems and methods facilitating mobile retail environments |
US9710800B2 (en) * | 2013-05-03 | 2017-07-18 | Oracle International Corporation | Using voice input at a mobile point of sale |
US20160125563A1 (en) * | 2014-11-02 | 2016-05-05 | Joseph Lai | System and Method for Smart Passenger and Freight Transportation |
US20220188857A1 (en) * | 2015-07-23 | 2022-06-16 | Luke J. Niemela | Coupon System for Goods and Services |
GB201516258D0 (en) | 2015-08-24 | 2015-10-28 | Continental Automotive Systems | In-vehicle consumer purchase system |
GB2544511A (en) | 2015-11-19 | 2017-05-24 | Barclays Bank Plc | Off-line transaction method and system |
WO2017197625A1 (en) * | 2016-05-19 | 2017-11-23 | 朱亮红 | Travel-based service guiding method and system, server, and related systems |
MX2021006125A (en) * | 2018-11-26 | 2021-06-23 | Everseen Ltd | System and method for process shaping. |
CN111539797B (en) * | 2020-05-05 | 2023-09-05 | 大连遨游智能科技有限公司 | Mobile retail system and method suitable for passengers |
CN111553775B (en) * | 2020-05-05 | 2023-09-05 | 大连遨游智能科技有限公司 | Experience type retail method and system based on travel |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20010051876A1 (en) * | 2000-04-03 | 2001-12-13 | Seigel Ronald E. | System and method for personalizing, customizing and distributing geographically distinctive products and travel information over the internet |
DK1284091T3 (en) * | 2000-05-22 | 2012-12-17 | Ericsson Telefon Ab L M | PROCEDURE FOR A CONNECTION WITH A CORE NETWORK |
US20020143655A1 (en) * | 2001-04-02 | 2002-10-03 | Stephen Elston | Remote ordering system for mobile commerce |
US20030023456A1 (en) * | 2001-07-20 | 2003-01-30 | Dilollo Michael R. | System and method for enabling retail sales to international travellers |
US20080040172A1 (en) * | 2004-09-20 | 2008-02-14 | Jennifer Watkins | Method and System for Reserving and Controlling Access to Products and Services at a Remote Location Via a Communications Network |
WO2009097042A1 (en) * | 2008-01-28 | 2009-08-06 | Aircell Llc | System for customizing electronic services for delivery to a passenger in an airborne wireless cellular network |
WO2009152185A2 (en) * | 2008-06-09 | 2009-12-17 | Guestlogix, Inc. | Systems and methods facilitating mobile retail environments |
CN101303871B (en) * | 2008-06-28 | 2010-09-01 | 陈涛 | Handcar multimedia player and play method thereof |
CN101500209A (en) * | 2009-02-16 | 2009-08-05 | 北京交通大学 | Method for implementing railway truck terminal multimedia service based on GPRS mobile intelligent network |
US20110301835A1 (en) * | 2010-06-07 | 2011-12-08 | James Bongiorno | Portable vacation/travel planner, and family tour guide device |
US8744920B2 (en) * | 2010-10-05 | 2014-06-03 | Guestlogix, Inc. | Systems and methods for integration of travel and related services and operations |
-
2012
- 2012-10-05 US US13/646,280 patent/US20140100976A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2013
- 2013-10-02 CN CN201380063556.9A patent/CN104969248A/en active Pending
- 2013-10-02 WO PCT/IB2013/002759 patent/WO2014053914A1/en active Application Filing
- 2013-10-02 EP EP13844008.6A patent/EP2904567A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2013-10-02 CA CA2887373A patent/CA2887373A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN104969248A (en) | 2015-10-07 |
WO2014053914A1 (en) | 2014-04-10 |
US20140100976A1 (en) | 2014-04-10 |
EP2904567A4 (en) | 2016-04-20 |
CA2887373A1 (en) | 2014-04-10 |
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